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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 1944)
i Yanks Speed to Off Entire Peninsula ST. Weather MIBUNE NANTES CAPTURE EXPECTED SOON Bradley's Armored Columns Race Virtually at Will Be low Rennes in Push. Forecast! Clear and wanner to stent and Saturday. Temp. ftlichfttt yesterday . 89 Lowest this morning . 66 United Press Full Leased Wire United Press Full Leased Wire Thirty-ninth Year MEDFORD, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1944 NO. 114. Violence Flares in Philadelphia Trolley Strike FUEHRER OKOERS RUTHLESS PURGE Block NAZAIRE AND MEDFORDeMli 1 Supreme Headquarters, AEF, Aug. 4 (U.R) The French city of Rennes, ancient Norman capital, hai been oc cupied by Allied troops but the enemy continues to put up some resistance, it was an nounced today. Supreme Headquarters, AEF, Aug. 4. (U.R) American mobile forces sped at least 20 miles southward beyond Rennes in Brittany today, and informed quarters here expected them to capture the great French ports of St. Nazaire and Nantes within 24 hours, blocking off the entire Breton peninsula for a quick mopup. At supreme headquarters the occupation of the whole peninU' la by Lt. Gen. Omar N. Brad ley's flying columns careening through it at lightning speed seemed to be a matter of days and a few days at that. Race At Will Responsible sources said this evening it would not be surpris ing if Bradley's advanced elem ents already had reached the German positions covering St. Nazaire and Nantes on the Loire estuary. ' Front dispatches revealed that United States armored columns had raced virtually at will to points 20 miles below Rennes, 31 miles from the south coast, and 17 miles southwest of Dinan in a many-pronged push threat ening to collapse the last organ ized German resistance on the peninsula. Only in the area of Rennes, ancient Norman capital which Washington said yesterday had been captured, was any formid able German resistance reported and bypassing elements already were speeding far on beyond that knot of opposition both to the south and the west. Drive On St. Malo Bradley's westbound right wing swept along the coast to ward Brest and opened a frontal push against St. Malo, which was bypassed by a column strik ing through Dinan to Broons, IT miles to the southwest and 31 miles northwest of Rennes. At headquarters it was be lieved the elements of four Ger man divisions believed to be in Brittany might undertake one stubborn stand somewhere in the Breton hills. But if so it was regarded as foredoomed. The distance of the American vanguard from their goals on the south coast was measured best not in miles but in terms of the resistance ahead of it and the speed with which it could be Vsupplied with food, fuel and ammunition. The only definite news here this evening was that the hard riding tankmen were well be yond Rennes and pushing strongly along the north coast beyond Dinan. Supply Strained Airmen who flew over the battle area below Avranches said the roads were packed with supply vehicles and reinforce ments, sharply contrasting with the deserted highways on the German side. Injecting a note of caution, however, observers pointed out that the spectacular speed of the American armored advance in the last 10 days would strain any supply service, and difficul ties were increasing with every mile of advance. . . As in the German sweep I through France in 1940, the enemy had been broken on the Breton front, his communica tions ripped asunder, his avail able reinforcements exhausted and his entire campaign plan thrown into disruption. SIDE GLANCES By TRIBUNE REPORTERS Sarah and Harold Tolle sitting out on the hillside to enjoy the evening scenery and give the mosquitoes a treat. Traffic Cop Dick Baize ex hibiting a regular "rogue's gal lory" of himself in the form of photographs taken at a sidewalk stand. Lt. Tinsley saying goodbye with suspicious fervor to news paper men who had pestered him for news during his tour of duty as camp PRO. Elva Jennings thinking up em barrassing questions to ask a cer tain frequcst visitor at the courthouse). U , lira til - Vt s wjwmm sates i ., (Acme Ttlephoto) Police stand guard outside this Philadelphia building, d imaged In rectal outbreaks that followed strike of city's 3800 transportation workers. The city, center ot vital ar industries, awaits federal Uitervention as final move to end paralyzing tieup which started over resent ment at company announcement that Negroes would be trained as motormeo- 4 FLORENCE HEART Rome, Aug. 4. (U.R) British Eighth army forces broke into the southern section of Florence today after a swift four-mile ad vance that routed the Germans from their main hill defenses be low the Arno river and drove them back across the stream into the heart of the historic city. Official reports said fast-rolling South African patrols thrust into the city from the south .to day and found that five of the six bridges crossing the Arno into northern Florence had been destroyed by the retreating enemy. It was indicated the Germans had withdrawn their main forces into Florence or beyond the city to their Gothic line defenses in the mountains farther north. (German broadcasts recently had hinted that Florence would not be defended, asserting that the Nazi troops had made it an open city to prevent destruction of its art treasures. LAST JAP DIES IN By United Press Allied forres captured Myltky Ina in northern Burma today clearing the last Japanese ob stacle to reopening an overland supply route from China to In dia, while American marines and army forces on Guam battled to hem Jaoanese defenders into a narrowing nockrj on the north ern end of the Island. Mvitkvina was occupied by American. British, and Chinese forces after they had killed al most the last man of a 3.000 enemy garrison which had de fended the citv against siege since last May 17. The fall of Myltkvina elves Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell's forces a jumning off place for contact Ine Chinese troops advancing In to Burrrn from the Salween river area of Yunnan province. Join ing of the two forces would form the first link between China and Burma since the fall of the old Burma road to the Japanese. Envoy to Vatican Quits Nazi Cause Vatican City. Aug. 4 (U.R) Baron Ernst Von Weizsaeker, German ambassador to the Vat ican, has deserted the Nazi cause and informed the Holy See that he will no longer rep resent the existing German gov ernment, authoritative Vatican sources revealed today. The German ambassador's break with Berlin was under stood to have been precipitated by the abortivo revolt inside Germany, and came into the open last Saturday when Karl Gustav Wollemweber, first sec retary of the embassy, attempt ed take over the embassy. Striking Trolley Operators Reject Appeals From Army Philadelphia, Aug. 4. (U.R) The executive committee of the striking Philadelphia Transportation company employes again this afternoon rejected the plea of army officials that they re turn to work. WILD HOTEL PARTY South Bend, Ind., Aug. 4 (U.R) Jackie Cooper, former film star and a naval V-12 trainee at Notre Dame, was charged today with contributing to the delinquency of a 15-year-old South Bend girl by furnish ing her intoxicating liquor and inducing her to remain over night in a hotel room he had rented. Prosecutor Arthur F. Scher filed six affidavits against four persons, including 22-year-old Cooper, charging them with thq delinquency count. He said the charges came from an investiga tion of a "wild party thrown aU a South Bend hotel July 22." The others were Pauline Frederick, 19, South Bend, de scribed as Cooper's companion; George Bender, also a V-12 trainee at the Notre Dame naval training school, and Olive Low ery, a negro waiter at the hotel. Scher said warrants had been issued for arrest of the four. Cooper was unavailable for com ment. Miss Frederick was charged in .the affidavits with contribut ing to the delinquency of the I 15-year-old girl and another 16- j year-oia gin. uenaer was ac cused of contributing to the de linquency of the 15-year-old girl and having immoral rela tions with her, and the waiter with serving the minors intox icating liquof. The last picture Cooper made before entering the navy, "Where Are My Children," dealt with Juvenile delinquency and was made at the request of the United States government. 28 In Crash Of Army Transport Brunlng Army Air Field, Neb. Aug. 4. (U.R) A C-47 transport plane, carrying an estimated complement of 28 men, crashed near Napcr, Neb., last night, it! was announced today by Col. C. I McAllister, base commander. The majority of the crew are ; believed to be dead, McAllister said. The plane had left Brunijig Field for Pierre, S. D. Names were withheld pending notification of next of kin. QUEEN 44 TODAY London, Aug. 4 (U.R) Queen Elizabeth observed her 44th birthday today at Buckingham Palace. Flags flew over all gov ernment buildings but because of the war there was no special celebration. ' 'pi - .il -- By United Press Nearly 30,000 workers were idle today in a score of walkouts that plagued the United States and Canada, the most important of which were the transit strikes at Philadelphia and Montreal, while at Detroit a strike of 7,000 employees at five General Motors plants entered its ninth day, tying up production of Pratt-Whitncy aircraft engine parts. The system was taken over by the war department last night on order of President Rosoevelt. Negro Shot A 13-year-old negro boy, Frank Howard, was shot and critically injured yesterday at Philadel phia by white men in a passing automobile in the first violence the city has experienced since Tuesday, when 11 persons were hospitalized and more than 200 arrested in riots. Local 235 of the United Auto mobile Workers (CIO) at De troit ignored union executive board appeals and repeated war labor board directives to return to work, after 1,300 strikers at a stormy two-hour mass meeting last night voted to remain out until all discharged employes were reinstated and grievances over stepped-up production schedules settled. Four thousand non-strikers were reported idle at St. Louis, Mo., where 300 negro chippers at the General Steel plant re mained on strike protesting alleged abuse by a white fore man, halting production of tanks, castings for gun turrets and railroad equipment. In western Pennsylvania war plants approximately 4,000 workers were Idle. Plenty of Rubber But Labor Lacking To Produce Tires Los Angeles, Aug. 4 (U.R) There Is rubber to burn, but 40 per cent of the tire making ma chinery In this area is out of production because of man power shortages. President Leonard Firestone of the Fire stone Rubber Corp. of Califor nia said today. Los Angeles ranks second only to Akron, O., in tire man ufacture. Keynotlng a conference of top men in the Industry seeking to ease the critical tire situa tion, Firestone said use of Ger man prisoners of war was being considered. Despite an average paycheck of $72.80 a week to a typical worker, the personnel problem is acute, said L. C. Smith, Fire stone plant manager. TO BERLIN By United Press The shortest distances to Berlin from advanced Allied lines today: Russia 328 miles. Italy 604 miles. France 623 miles. HITLERITES FLEE EAST PRUSSIA AS REDS DRIVE NEAR Frightened Populace Scatter While Russians Swing Out to Flank Warsaw. London, Aug. 4 (U.R) A Moscow communique reported tonight that the Red army captured more than 100 local ities in a drive steadily widen ing its bridgehead across the Vistula in the area of Stassow, 115 miles south of Warsaw, from which Soviet forces were swinging northwest in flank ing drive against the capital. Moscow, Aug. 4 (U.R) Panic stricken German civilians have begun evacuating East Prussin as the Red army massed at the frontier for the first thrust onto Reich soil, Izvestia reported to day as other Soviet forces swung northwestward beyond the Vis tula in a grand scale flanking drive against Warsaw. Izvestia said .the roads of East Prussia were Jammed with non descript transport carrying civil ians and property westward from the Soviet-menaced region of the fatherland, while fierce air bat tles raged overhead. Praga Stormed While Marshal Konstantln K. Rokossovsky's vanguard stormed the Praga outposts of Warsaw, his left wing veered up toward the city from the Vistula cros sings, which had driven a wedge within less than 100 miles of German Silesia, to reduce the capital's defenses from the south If the frontal onslaught were held up. (The German DNB News Agency said the Red army main tained heavy pressure "in the area of Warsaw" from the east, northeast and southeast.) (DNB said that in the Augus tow and Vilkovlchki areas before East Prussia, the Soviets pene trated five miles westward, in dicating they now were at or within a few thousand yards of the frontier.) (A Polish underground com munique said more than 25.000 Polish patriots battling the Ger mans in the streets of Warsaw had seized many strong points scattered throughout the city, and "the initintive is ours, but the fight is bitter.") TEXANlSllE IN 112JGREES Br United Press That heat wave that swept the country yesterday, with new high records established in dozens of cities, was Just a re hearsal for today. Today, It will be hot, the weatherman at Chicago predict ed, with the mercury soaring over the 100-degree mark In many parts of the south and southwest. Yesterday's high was 112 de grees at Quanah, Tex., where 114 degrees has been reported twice within the current 10-day heat wave gripping Texas, al though an unofficial recording of 117 degrees was reported from Memphis, Tex. The mercury soared to 68 degrees at Chicago yesterday, reminding residents of the warm spell during the republi can national convention in June. Test Tube Start x of Human Growth Done by Savants Washington, Aug. 4. (U.R) John Rock of Harvard univer sity and Miriam E. Menkin of the Brookline, Mass., Free Hos pital for Women have succeeded in fertilizing human ova in a test tube, according to a report in the current Issue of the Maga zine Science. Although similar experiments have been carried out with rab bit and monkey eggs, the "first stages In tho cleavage of the fertilized human egg have, as far as we know, never been re ported" before, the researchers said. Employment Ceilings Ordered For Non-Essential Industries To Hold War Workers on Jobs Washington, Aug. 4. (U.R) War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes today ordered employment ceilings placed on non-essential industries in labor shortage areas in order to hold war workers at their jobs and to free 200,000 workers for vital war work. IN TOKYO AREA By United Press The Japanese reported today that powerful formations of American carrier planes had at tacked the Bonin and Volcano Islands, within 630 miles of Tokyo, and Radio Tokvo ex pressed its belief that Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher's famed task force 58 again was on the prowl near the Japanese homeland. A Tokyo broadcast recorded by United Press In San Frnncisco said 10 cruisers and dostrovers were sighted east of Chlqhl Jima In the Bonlns Friday afternoon. Their anpearance there "and sudden Intensification of enemy activities near the Japanese homeland" Indicated to the Jap-, anese that an American task force was operating In the area, already struck by Mitschcr's force three times since tho start of the Marianas campaign in June. London, Aug. 4 U.R) A sky filling parade of 2,200 or more American heavy bombers and fighters spread a trail of ruin across 200 miles of northern Ger many today, smashing at dozens of Nazi military targets and secret enemy experimental sta tions at Pcenemunde on the Bal tic sea. Streaming out across the Reich under brilliant sunshine that per mitted visual bombing of all their targets, more than 1.200 U. S. 8th Air Force Flying Fort resses and Liberators srx'wcd a great weight of high explosives and fire bombs on Bremen, Kiel, Roctock. Anklam and Pcene munde. Another 1 000 Mustang. Light ning, and Thunderbolt fighters covered the widespread assault against what Berlin described as furious resistance from tho Luft waffe. Negro Convicted Of Firing Hotel San Francisco, Aug, 4. (U.R) George Holman, 49 year old negro cafe owner, today stood convicted on 22 counts of mur der as the pyromnniac who set the New Amsterdam hotel fire that claimed 22 lives last March 27 In San Francisco's worst dis aster since the 1606 earthquake and fire. A superior court Jury of seven men and five women returned the multiple conviction late last night after deliberating for 7'4 hours, and recommended that Judge E. P. Murphy sentence Holman to life Imprisonment. RAILROADERS SEE NEW LABOR DRAFT EFFORT Washington, Aug. 4. (U.R) The weekly nowspapYr Labor, published by 15 railway unions, said today that "military brass hats have raised a scare about a production lag and letdown on the home front" to revive agi tation for a national labor draft. The newspaper cited war pro duction board, labor department and war manpower commission sources to combat the statement by Lt. Gen. Brchon B. Somer vell that absenteeism and turn over are Increasing among work ers In war industries. London, Aug. 4 (U.R) The London Times made newspaper history today when it published a complete 10-page airmail edi tion on India paper for overseas distribution. Byrnes authorized all govern ment agencies to apply any sanctions necessary such as choking off materials, trans portation, fuel, and power to enforce the new regulations. Need Big Push The new orders were prompt ed by the armed services' pleas for more production for the im minent climactic phase ot the war. "We have the enemy on the ropes; he is dazed and his knees are buckling," Byrnes told a press conference. "This is no time to take a holiday and give him time to recover." Byrnes said that under the new program the responsibility foi providing the necessary man ptwer for vital war programs rests with the local communities. "Those at home must work as hard as those abroad are fight ing," he said. "Tho responsibility for manning our war plants is clear and unmistakcable and it rests with the communities. The communities must meet the re sponsibility if we are able to fin ish the war without enacting a universal service law." Areas Empowered Byrnes issued a directive giv ing area production urgency committees in all Group I and II labor areas areas of actual or threatened labor shortages the power to clamp employment ceilings on less essential Indus tries lu order to channel the sur plus labor to nearby war plants. These committees are empow ered to set manpower priorities and take any other measure to insure full utilization of exist ing manpower. In case of conflict with the war manpower commission, the urgency committee's decision will take precedence. HAIL CUTS DOWN ' Billings, Mont., Aug. 4 U.R) Farmers in eight Montana coun ties lost $1000,000 in a few hours Wednesday night when heavy hail, accompanied by high winds, cut down thousands of acres of beets and other crops. County Agent W. H. Jones of Billings said that the million dollar estimate of crop losses was "conservative " The hail stones ranged In size up to that of a hen s egg, he reported. Hardest hit were the Broad view and Forsyth areas in Yel lowstone and Rosebud counties. Farmers In Treasure county re ported 4,500 acres of beets and 12 000 acres of grain crops were damaged. SUE ESTATE Los Angeles, Aug. 4. (U.R) The Automatic Lawn Sprinkler Co., today sued to recover $45,000 It says Robert A. Bailey, 58-year-old clerk embezzled In three years before his sulclde.4 Bailey killed himself during an audit last month. GOP Governors Say New Deal Fosters Industrial Strife St. Louis, Aug. 4 U.R) The republican governor' confer ence concluded Its work today with final reports charging the New Deal with chaotic adminis tration of welfare agencies and arbitrary handling of labor problems In a manner tending to promoto Industrial strife. Under leadership of Thomas E. Dewey, republican presiden tial candidate, the governors submitted the last of their bill of particulars challenging the Roosevelt administration In the form of five reports and a state ment of conclusions. Dewey said the action of himself, Gov. John W. Brickcr, vice presiden tial candidate, and the 24 other G.O.P. executives was unani mous In all instances With the conference out of the way, Dewey began today a tcries of conferences with. Mis COURT OF HONOR TO ROOT OUT FOES OF NAZIREGIME 24 Ranking Officers Named as Executed, Suicides, Deserters or Expelled. London, Aug. 4. (U.R) Berlin reported today that Adolf Hitler had ordered a "ruthless purge" of the German army as a result of the attempt on his life last month and named 24 ranking army officers as executed, sui cides, deserters, or expelled in connection with the plot. For the first time the Nazis) acknowledged the sweeping scope and gravity of the anti Nazi rebellion highlighted by tho attempted assassination of Hit ler, and revealed that a "court of honor" had been set up to carry out the purge and try to root out the last of the suspects. General Deserts Gen. George Lindemann, Ger man army high commander In the Baltics, was reported by tha DNB agency to have deserted to the Russians in the first high de fection of that category in the Nazi military ranks. A Major Kuhn also was described as a, deserter to the Soviets. Two officers Colonel von Quirnheim and Lleutcnant-Col. von Haeftcn were revealed to have been executed, In addition to Gen. Frledrich Olbricht, for mer second in command of tha home army, and Col. Claus von Stauffonbcrg, whose names had been announced earlier. Five Suicides Five more were described by DNB as having committed sui cide. They were Col. Gen. Lud wig Beck, former chief of staff, who had been reported executed; Artillery General Wagner; Col. Frcytag, General Loring-Hoven, and Lieutenant Colonel Schra der. The "court of honor" met to day and Hitler approved pro posals to expel from the army Marshal von Witzlcben, General Fellglbcl, Lt. Gen. von Hase, Ma j . Gen. Stciff, Major-Gen. von Rcschow, Col. Hansen, Lt. Col. Bcrhardis, Major Haycssen, Cap tain Klausing, Lt. von der Schul enberg, Lt. von Hagen and Lt. Graf York von Wartcnburg. All will be handed over to tha German people's court "for sen tence," DNB said. Discrediting persistent Nazi propaganda claims that the re bellion was squelched within a few hours after the bomb ex ploded, slightly wounding Hitler, the Germans now acknowledged that the court of high army offi cers was going into action in an attempt to ferret out the ele ments of the plot patently rooted deep in tho Nazi military struc ture. SEN. MEAD APPOINTED TRUMAN'S SUCCESSOR Washington, Aug. 4. (U.R) Sen, James M. Mead, D., N. Y. today was named chairman of tho senate's war investigating committee succeeding Senator Harry S. Truman, D., Mo., Democratic vice presidential nominee. souri politicians and representa tives of other groups. He will entrain for New York this eve ning, ending a one-week, thrce state campaign organization tour which led through Penn sylvania and Illinois to tha banks of the Mississippi. The five reports today com pleted the conference agenda of 14 domestic Issues In which tha G.O.P. cited conflict between state and federal Interests In a broad field of governmental re lationships and demanded greater scope and responsibility for local government. Charging the administration with inefficient and arbitrary approaches to labor problems, the governors demanded "an immediate and drastic change in the spirit and methods of ad ministration of these (labor) laws."
